Book #1 - The French Lieutenant's Woman

Okay, right off the bat I'm going to admit that I had to start reading this book three times. I started in March, couldn't get into it. Picked it back up in April, still couldn't get into it. Finally decided to try, try, try again in June, and finally succeeded. It was, however, touch and go there for awhile.


At first, I couldn't tell what in God's name I was actually reading about. Is this book about a French Lieutenant? Is it about his woman? Nope and nope! It's about the French lieutenant's woman's man with whom she sleeps with. Did that make sense to you? Don't worry, it didn't make sense to me either...at first. By page 60, I was consulting a Spark Notes character guide. I couldn't tell Mrs. Poulteney from Charles Smithson. But after writing all the major characters down, and referring back to the list quite often, I really got into it. By page 400, I didn't want it to end!


These people are just that...they're real people. I know, I know, they're really just characters in a book. But I really believe that their stories absolutely transcend time. Take Charles for example... He's a man who, although clearly engaged to Ernestina, almost immediately falls for another woman. He admits to himself that he should steer clear of the woman on the undercliff. But what does he do you ask? He intentionally frickin' walks down there!!!!!! What a jerk!! I mean come on, we all know that if you point a gun at your foot and pull the trigger, you're probably gonna get hurt! And then when he actually eats the cake?! Oh, whoa is me!! Yes, he admits that he made a mistake but it's almost like he admits it just so he doesn't get caught lying about it. And then he's upset that he's alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Poor Ernestina really gets the shaft! She is pretty young and naive but she knows what she deserves. I do, however, find it low-down and dirty that she had to get good ol' daddy involved when Charles ends their relationshit. She almost appears to be completely incapable of standing up for herself. When the question of living in Charles' uncles house is proposed, she does make it quite clear she would not like it. But then resigns to the fact that she probably doesn't have a choice. I know that in the Victorian era, gender roles were drastically different than they are now but she almost lies down and says, "Please Charles, walk all over me."


Sarah, oh Sarah, where has your sanity gone? You, fair maiden, are the kind of lady that Jon Bon Jovi sings about...you give love a bad name! First you lie about sleeping with the French lieutenant. Then you seduce a man, who you know is incapable of controlling himself (not to mention in a relationship). And finally, when that man finds you, after searching for YEARS, you basically throw dirt in his face and say "Umm, no thank you!"

All in all (haha...I always wanted to put that in writing, especially since we were ALWAYS told we couldn't!), Sam is probably the most "normal" person in the book. He knows his place in life and doesn't try to change it...until he finally realizes he deserves better! Can I get an A-MEN?!

Crazy for the Top 100

I think I might be crazy... Who, you might ask, decides to read the Top 100 Novels and then blog about them? I do, as a matter of fact! That's right people...I've compiled a Top 100 Novels list based on four other lists (NPR, Time Magazine and Modern Library's Board & Readers'). I intend on reading every single book on this list and telling you what I REALLY think about them. I don't care if my opinion offends anyone, doesn't make sense, or is just plain silly.

When I would read novels in my major courses in college, I did it out of necessity for a good grade. I HAD to write 10-page papers about this novel, 20-page papers on that novel. Now when I read, I can write two sentences in a blog that absolutely no one can grade me on. If no one likes it, I don't get an F. I get a complete sense of satisfaction knowing I can write whatever I want, my ideas can be wrong and I'm still forming a valid opinion of what I'm reading.

I can't guarantee the posts will be consistent, as my reading pace is quite slow. What I can guarantee is my complete honesty. So, continue reading...or don't.